00:04S1
My goodness, give me some height.
00:07S2
You certainly need iNeed it.
00:08S1
Shut up Sam!
00:09S3
This is Studio 1 on Vision Australia radio.
00:16S1
Hi, I'm Lizzie.
00:17S2
And I'm Sam.
00:18S1
And you're listening to Studio 1 in Australia, Radio's weekly look at life from a blind and low vision point of view.
S2
On this week's show... it's National Volunteer Week, and we catch up with some of the wonderful volunteers here at Vision Australia, Radio Adelaide.
00:32S2
And we also catch up with a retired radio presenter who has decided to read the death notices for Vision Australia Radio.
00:39S1
As we always say this point, please do get in touch with the show. Whether you have experience with any of the issues covered on this week's episode of Studio 1, or whether you feel there's something we should be talking about, you never know. Your story and insight may help someone who's dealing with something similar.
00:56S2
You can contact us. Email is best - studio1@vision.australia.org - that's studio number one at Vision Australia - dot - org.
01:02S1
Or you can drop us a note on our Facebook page at facebook.com slash VA Radio Network. We want to hear from you. Hey, Sam. How are you going?
01:14S2
Today I'm in a good mood. It's National Volunteers Week, and, well, volunteers are an extremely important commodity.
01:22S1
They are. And an extremely dedicated bunch of people.
01:25S2
So we've been wandering around the studio, making a nuisance of ourselves and talking to some of our volunteers here. And there's a well with a variety of different people that are doing a variety of different things.
01:38S1
Yes. And I've got to say, it's interesting being in the studio early in the morning, which is not usually what we do. And so we've come across a completely different bunch of people than we're used to talking with.
01:48S2
Indeed, including and some people interstate may have never heard of him. The one and only Peter Goers, who we will be talking to later.
01:57S1
Yes, such an interesting person, but I think we also catch up with a few other volunteers.
02:02S2
That's right. We have... the voice herself of Studio 1, the lady here starting the show and finishing the show off. Plus a few other people who are doing the national press and, a number of other different shows. So the thing is, we're also volunteers. We may be being paid to do what we're doing now, but me and Lizzie also do our own bits of volunteering around the place.
02:27S1
Yes, we do. And I was going to ask Sam, actually, when did you start volunteering? Not just at Vision Australia Radio, but have you ever volunteered anywhere else?
02:36S2
Quite a number of different things. I mean, my involvement with disabled sport has meant that occasionally if a job needs to be filled, then yes, I do it myself. So I've been a volunteer coach in the past. I've also served on the boards of the Australian Blind Sports Federation and, well, a few other things. So yes, it's... not everything can be you can be paid for. And also what I've found, though, is the ideal way of actually getting experience in doing a job, if you want to do it, is to actually put your name up and do it for nothing, for a little while.
So that's what I did initially when I was... having having difficulties getting work in the IT fields, I volunteered at Novita Children's Services for a while, doing the rollout of computers and things like that. It shows that you can do something when it doesn't just pad out your resume. It actually shows you can do something.
03:30S1
Yeah. And I think because you're doing it for no pay as well, if you continue to do it and you do it well, it shows that your work ethic is is there. And I think that makes you more employable. You know, people are more willing to work with you because you've shown that you can work consistently even if you're not being paid.
03:48S2
And indeed and well, if you phrase your resume out correctly, you may be able to fuzzy up the edges a little bit as well, because after all you're doing the work, you might as well say that you're doing the work and whether you're being paid for it or not, well, it's no one else's business. Really.
04:06S1
No. That's right. But I always admire volunteers, and I have so much respect for those that give up their time willingly to help others, which is in the case of Vision Australia Radio or Beyond Blindness, where I volunteer or I even volunteered at Radio Adelaide for a while, which was lots of fun. We did a disability and youth based show there, but that was all voluntary as well. And I always have so much respect for those people that are willing to give up their time, their energy, and to help others without asking anything in return.
04:40S2
Well, that's enough of us sitting around talking to ourselves. I think we do a lap of the studio.
04:45S1
Let's go.
04:52S2
We are talking to the voice of Studio 1. Chloe Lane.
04:56S4
Me?
04:58S1
Yes. So we got a couple of questions for you, if you wouldn't mind answering.
05:01S4
I'll try.
05:02S1
OK, firstly, how long have you been volunteering at Vision Australia Radio?
05:06S4
Gosh, over ten years. I'm not sure how far over ten years, Lizzie.
05:10S1
And what sort of programs do you [?feature on]?
05:13S4
Goodness, when I first started, I was what was I reading the Advertiser and the Australian and then I learnt to do the little panelling, self panelling. So I did conversation and Crikey. And I filled in a lot once because my husband was working interstate like he is at the moment, which I'm not a regular at the moment. I'm coming and going and I don't know what. I've done heaps. It's been a lot of fun, Lizzie, a lot of fun.
05:46S1
I think our listeners would like to know what made you join Vision Australia Radio as a volunteer?
05:51S4
My mother was losing her sight at the end of her life, and she used to listen. And my son was studying to be a journalist, which he is now a motoring journalist. But he came in here because he wanted to learn about radio and perhaps a bit radio people. So he volunteered here, and he's 52 now, and he was about, gosh, 19 or 20 when he was doing that. Lizzie. So that's how I knew about it. And when I finished work, I thought, well, that's something I can go and do and I love it.
06:26S2
Plus, you do the voiceover for one of Vision Australia's most high rating shows. Well done.
06:31S4
Do you know I didn't know that it's you know, well, I enjoyed doing all those little bits and pieces. I've always been good at talking. My husband said So why? I think that's a common thing with people in radio. We've always been good at talking.
S2
Well, that's why you get there, don't you? Yes. And may I ask, I've forgotten your beautiful dog's name.
06:53S4
Lacey. Lacey. And she's always a regular guest. She would be a one. Does she ever put in a wolf or two for you?
07:00S1
She hasn't yet. Has she?
07:02S4
Do well trained horses? Two. Well trained. That's lovely. It's lovely to talk to both of you. I'm worried where I'm going to finish up chatting to left.
07:12S2
Well, we'll we'll let you get on with what you're what you're doing and we'll continue bothering people.
07:17S1
We'll go terrorise the rest of the community, terrorise us now.
07:23S2
So heading back towards the studios and towards the Volunteers Allowed room, volunteers lounge. Let's see who we can conjure up. Hello. We have two people sitting here. Do you mind having a chat for us for studio one? So we're recording the National Volunteers Week. Our show for this week is about, well, volunteering. Yes. So what are you doing here?
07:48S5
We are pre-reading letters to the editor from The Australian, the Advertiser and the NT news. To be recorded and then played later this afternoon on radio.
08:01S1
So can I ask, how long have you been volunteering at Vision Australia radio?
08:05S5
Eight years.
08:06S1
Eight years. And what drew you to Vision Australia Radio as opposed to anywhere else?
08:11S5
I came to live in Adelaide because a lot of my family here, my husband had died. I was on the loose end to fill in my tarnish. That's how I came to Vision Australia Radio.
08:24S2
For the benefit of our listeners we're talking to...
08:26S5
Helen Slade.
08:27S1
And have you enjoyed volunteering with Vision Australia Radio?
08:31S5
I have very much, especially the people that the other volunteers that I work with.
08:36S1
They are an amazing group of people.
08:38S5
That's right. They certainly are.
08:39S2
You're the pre-reading now what happens next?
08:43S5
We record. Go to other studios and record. Elizabeth, who's behind us, and she does the actual recording and Cynthia and I read the letters.
08:56S1
So you guys must have a pretty good, work ethic between you and good teamwork. And, I mean, must have taken you a while to figure out how you are going to present the content.
09:07S5
Well, it's pretty simple. And, yes, we get on well.
09:12S1
Well, that's a way to start.
09:13S5
Yes. It's easy. All the volunteers are easy to work with.
09:17S2
We'll leave you to it. Carry on. But, Cynthia, you're hiding that here. There. All right. Hello.
09:23S6
Hello. How are you?
09:25S1
Good. How are you?
09:25S6
I'm very well, thank you. It's nice to see you in here.
09:29S1
Thank you. I never get to come in here. No.
09:31S6
Well, we don't ever get to see the new people. We just do it every week and do our job and and hope that everybody enjoys it.
09:41S1
So how long have you been volunteering with Vision Australia Radio?
09:44S6
Oh, I had a break because of Covid, but, probably three years.
09:50S1
Amazing. And what drew you to Vision Australia Radio as opposed to other organisations?
09:55S6
I had friends who said to me one day, We think you'd be good at this. Why don't you come in and and have a try? And I did, and I liked it and that's why I came in.
10:05S2
Peer pressure, I love it.
10:06S6
Well I did, yes I did, I love it.
10:08S1
And have you enjoyed your time here at Vision Australia Radio?
10:11S6
Certainly have. Thank you. I'm going to interrupt again. Yep. To tell you that Cynthia is 90 years old.
10:19S1
Are you really?
S7
Yes I am.
10:20S1
That's amazing. Yes. You must had an amazing life full of...
10:25S7
I've had a wonderful life. The very sports oriented life. Very interesting. Yes.
10:32S1
Cool. Fantastic.
10:33S6
Yes.
10:34S2
All right. We'll leave you guys to it. I think we've run out of people to talk to.
10:37S6
Thanks so much for coming in.
10:39S1
Thank you.
10:46S2
Okay, Lizzie, we're gonna find a studio. I think this one's free, and... Whoops. Oh. Hello?
10:52S8
No, I'm in here reading the death notices.
10:54S1
Oh, what a morbid job.
10:56S5
Well, no, but I love it. Hello. Hi. Hello. You're well known around here in these corridors at Vision Australia with your hit show, Studio 1.
11:05S1
I think it's got more to do with the dog than the show.
11:07S8
The dog's beautiful. Lacey, I love this dog. She's beautiful. She is. And she's ten.
11:14S1
So while we've got you here, we have a couple of questions, if you don't mind. Sure. So how long have you been volunteering at Vision Australia Radio?
11:22S8
I think since about late January. I think.
11:25S1
Late Jan. So it's not been long.
11:27S8
Well, I retired from the ABC last December, and I thought, Oh, I'd like to go and read the death notices at... Vision Australia radio. Yeah, they gave me this gig.
11:38S1
Amazing. I was going to say, I've actually heard that you've had quite a long and illustrious radio career at ABC previously. So how long did you work there?
11:47S8
20 years. On the evening show. And I also did some drive shows and afternoon shows, and I did two weeks of breakfast radio, which was a strange experience, but yes, 20 years, mainly of the evening show. And also I did an art show on Sunday and talked about gardening and not that I knew anything about gardening, but Sophie Thompson certainly did. And no, it was a great 20 years of my life.
12:10S2
You came back recently for the Anzac Day as well.
12:13S8
I did, yes, they, they when I retired they said, oh you can if you wouldn't mind still doing Anzac Day, which was my 20th year doing the commentating, the dawn service from the State National War Memorial on North Terrace, which I find a high honour to do. Radio is very interesting, you see, as you know, because, you know, we're talking to one person. It's the most personal of all the media. You know, one person is listening at a time and you know, you're talking to one person always. You know, it's not it's not like the theatre where you're talking to an auditorium, hopefully full of people. It's very personal and also radio.
What I love about radio is that it's companionable and it's about company. It's about providing company and information and entertainment for people, but it's also the medium where there are the least number of people between you and the person listening. You know, you might have a producer, you might have a technician, but it's, there's not a lot of editing.
13:18S1
Unless you do a pre-recorded showe...
13:20S2
Like we are doing here now. But yes. In...
13:23S8
But you won't edit this much.
13:25S2
Oh, no. Well. Well, no of course, well.
13:27S8
What you like.
13:28S1
So what made you want to get into radio? What drew you to radio as a profession?
13:33S8
Money. Money? No... I started, um, in I think about 1985. I was reviewing movies for Carol Whitelock on what was then, 5AM, which became ABC Radio Adelaide. Then after a while, I was poached to five in a commercial station and paid, and then I was poached to SAFM and the Austereo network, which was huge. This is in the 80s into the 90s, and for ten years I was the national film critic for the Austereo network's Coast to Coast. So I would review five movies a week, which was, you know, sounds like a great job, but and it was a great job. It was a great gig. But, you know, it became made movies work. And... then I went overseas and on my return, I started to do a movie segment with Carol Whitelock again, and we would do a whole hour and we would pick a theme, like children in movies or westerns or horror movies or whatever.
And I was engaging with the audience, you know, you'd see the names come up on the screen and you'd say, oh, here's Myrtle, Myrtle, Myrtle from Ethelton. Oh, you you do you remember the old Ethelton swimming pool? And and I would engage and I think on the basis of that, the then manager at ABC Radio Adelaide, Gail Bartel, offered me an audition to take over the evening show. And on the day of the audition, they rang me at 9.30 and said, Carol Whitelock, who usually did the afternoon show, is ill and you're on. So I was thrown in the deep end and on the basis of that, I got the gig and here I am as a volunteer at VA radio.
15:18S2
So the death notices, I mean, is this is this something you chose, or is this something that was thrown at you?
15:24S8
No, no, I chose it. I didn't want they said, well, what would you like to do? And I said, Well, I don't want to do a show such as you're doing when I have to organise guests and do all that, because I've done that for 20 years, and I just want to do something that's a straight read. And I knew that they did the death notes. They used to read death notices on the ABC. They used to do the country radio stations and I. Oddly enough, have never read the death notices. I've always avoided them. Do you read them?
15:51S2
The funny thing is, is that I'm getting to that sort of side of my life where people are starting to disappear on me as well. And this seems to happen in your 50s.
15:59S8
It's a slippery pole. Once you start reading the death notices, you end up in them. And I've never read them. And actually, I've missed people dying that I've known because I, you know, people haven't told me, actually, I'm really enjoying it. And I'm learning an enormous amount about people and and sadly, almost every week there's someone I know or know of. So, you know, and I'm one for funerals. I've done I think I'm up to my I think I recently for Stormy Summers, the famous Adelaide brothel madam who died and I gave a eulogy at her funeral. I think that was my 28th eulogy at a funeral. So I'm an experienced eulogist. And now I'm reading the death notices. And I love it in here. I love all the volunteers. You're paid due to your professionals, but the rest of us are just, you know, mug volunteers and they do a marvellous job.
16:51S2
Well, I actually started out as a volunteer, as you've been on Peter Greco's show. Because I know that. Because I've edited edited you. So that was pretty much how I started out on this side of the panel, pushing buttons and things like that. That was when he was doing it live. And then when, um, Covid hit, then we started doing things over zoom. And so that's when I came into things still pushing buttons and still, well, reading screens, which is a lot of fun for a blind person.
17:19S8
You interview people.
17:20S2
I try, I try, I leave it up to the professionals like Lizzie.
17:24S8
You interview people, Lizzie.
17:26S1
I do. I love interviewing people. I love coming up with questions. And it's always interesting because you meet somebody and you have these set of questions that you're going to ask, but you inevitably end up asking all sorts of other questions because especially if the person's interesting, which usually they are, you end up coming up with a whole bunch of other questions on the fly.
17:48S8
Of course. That's the way it goes, isn't it? It is. You always find out, you know, some interesting stuff, and everyone's got a story. They do. Everyone's got stories within stories. I'm doing this other work as a virtually a volunteer teaching a class, because I've had two books in the last couple of years, essentially memoirs that I've been published and by Wakefield Press here in South Australia. And, I'm teaching a class at the Glenelg Community Centre how to write your own life story. And it's fascinating. And we sit and share stories and I give them topics to write about. And, you know, everyone has a story and everyone has stories within those stories. Everyone does. Fascinating.
18:33S2
And the people you just don't believe. So you might have talked to someone on a daily basis and then you say, ah, yes. So let's tell us, you know, where you went to school. Is there anything interesting happen to you? And all of a sudden there's a gem that just sort of comes popping out.
18:47S8
Of course, and you find, you know, you find out things and people want to share. People love talking about themselves, basically, Lizzy, don't they? They do. Yes. Or in your case, your dog.
18:56S1
It's funny. Beautiful. I always say that people's favorite, like everyone's favourite topic is themselves.
19:02S8
That's right.
19:03S1
I genuinely find that people are amazing at talking about themselves or about projects and things that they are involved in.
19:13S8
And often you get in, you know, when you're interviewed, you you put a question is put to you and you think, I've never thought about that. You know, that happens sometimes.
19:23S2
Mine has often been, Was that really me?
19:26S8
Yeah, yeah I know. Well, see, I can't remember anything I did in the 80s. I used to say, you know, it's a blur to me. I used to say, if anyone knows what I was doing in the 80s, please don't let me know. I don't want to know. And she laughed. And so, yes, it's it's an honor. You know, anything we do in the media is an honor because we're presenting to people and we're also sharing some of our own lives, aren't we, Lizzy and Sam?
19:54S2
Yes, indeed, indeed. So talking of which, I mean, apart from teaching other people how to talk about their lives and talking about other people whose lives have ended... what else are you up to at the moment?
20:07S8
Well, I'm directing plays, which is my great love. I've been directing in the theatre for 51 years. I started when I was 17, and I have two one act plays by Noel Coward at Holden Street Theatres, and they opened last Thursday, and we're proceeding another two weeks, Tuesday to Sunday. So that's, you know what I love doing the most.
20:29S2
Well, Peter Goers, thank you very much for joining us. It's been a pleasure meeting you.
20:34S8
We've never met before in Studio 1. And both of you clearly are doing a wonderful job here. And, uh, it's been a pleasure to meet you and even more of a pleasure. To meet the wonderful Lacey, the dog who's most beautiful dog I think I've ever seen. Thank you, chums, and all the best to you. Studio 1, Sam and Lizzy on VA radio.
21:00S2
Are you interested in volunteering for Vision Australia Radio? You don't have to be a radio star or a tech whiz. Well, just look at me. You can learn how to volunteer by going to VA radio.org/about dash us slash volunteer. Yes okay I'll put it in the podcast notes. Or you can drop us an email radio at Vision Australia - dot - org. Well, literally annoys somebody at the water cooler.
21:34S1
But...
21:35S6
Oh, are we talking to Pauline Pierson?
21:38S1
Fantastic. And how long have you been volunteering at Vision Australia Radio?
S9
About 16 years.
S1
16 years? Fantastic.
21:46S4
Yes. That's a long time. Yes. Yeah.
S1
And what drew you t o Vision Australia Radio?
21:51S9
Well, I just thought it was something I could do when I retired, and I wasn't sure whether they would like my voice with it being a very Yorkshire voice from England. So. Yeah. So I've really enjoyed it.
22:02S1
Yeah. And what programs do you work with?
22:04S9
I do Opinion Hour. Yep. And also I'm going to help with other programs this morning called City Beats. Yeah. Yeah it's quite an interesting one. Yes. Yeah.
22:14S1
And have you enjoyed your time at Vision Australia Radio?
22:16S7
Loved it. Yes. Met lots of lovely people. Yeah. Which is really nice. Yes. Of friends. Yeah. Made lots of friends. Yeah. It really is such a warm and friendly atmosphere. It's lovely actually. Yes, yes. Well, I started over in Stall Street when they were over there in the city. Oh well, yes, that's a long time. Yeah.
22:32S1
I didn't even know that in the city...
22:33S9
No, that's right before the camp here. Yeah.
S1
I'm like a baby.
22:36S7
Yeah you are. Okay, then. Well, nice to meet you both.
S1
We'll let you get back to it and.
S7
Yeah, we'll get back to my program.
S1
Okay. Lovely. Thank you. Bye bye.
22:54S2
Maybe you're wondering what's going on with our theme song. Well, we want to try something different, and. Well, Lizzie wants the one we played at the start, and we will be playing the one that I want at the end. Let us know what you think. Email studio1@visionaustralia.org - that's studio one at Vision Australia - dot - org. Back to the program. For the purposes of the tape, who am I talking to?
23:19S10
My name is Kate Cooper. And I'm very happy to be a volunteer with Vision Australia Radio. I've seen all week like... my normal week is planning for my Emerging Writers program on Vision Australia Radio, so I'm either preparing questions for an interview, conducting an interview, or editing an interview that I've recorded for the program.
23:44S2
Do you do anything else about emerging writers? I think I've seen you around reading things, and...
23:49S10
I do every Wednesday. I read from Guardian International and then from Crikey. So I read The Guardian by myself in one of our booths, and I read Crikey as as part of a fantastic team with Lexi and Brendan.
24:05S2
So how much time do you spend out here at the station? I mean, to see you around a fair bit.
24:11S10
I do come in here quite a bit. I haven't quantified it myself, but I also do quite a bit of the work outside the station at home. So before I interview someone, I read their works, whether it's series of poems or a novel, and I sit at my laptop and prepare questions for them. And then after I've conducted the interview, our wonderful Pam sends me the interview to my home, and I sit there at home and do the editing. So ums and ahs and cons like that, take all of that out. It's really good fun doing digital editing. I love that side of it. So I probably do more away from the radio station than I do here, but it's all connected now.
25:01S2
Since 2020, we've all discovered how to work from home. What could be started in this in the first place?
25:06S7
Well, I used to volunteer in radio in the early 1980s, so I was involved in Iv-b FM as it was then, and also radio University for ATV, and it left me with a love of community radio, but then work and other things that happened, family and so forth. So I always had in the back of my mind that I'd love to become involved again. And a few years ago, another volunteer here at Vision Australia Radio, Brian Langhorne, you happened to mention that he was coming in to do some reading. I knew Brian through my work and I asked him, do you think that's something I could do? And he said, certainly. So I got in contact with the trainee and I haven't looked back.
25:54S2
Okay, well happy Volunteers Week.
25:56S7
Thank you and happy Volunteers Week to you. Sam, can I just add about volunteering? I've been doing some kind of volunteering all of my adult life in different areas. You get so much more out of it, I think, than you put in. Yes, you dedicate a number of hours every week, but the people you meet, the experiences you have, I wouldn't swap that for anything. Volunteering is my passion and I heartily, heartily recommend it to everyone.
26:31S1
And that's a wrap for this week. We would like to say a big thank you to Peter Goers, Kate and the other volunteers that joined us on this week's show.
26:39S2
And of course, thank you for listening. We'll be back next week with a special on Reconciliation Week. What does it mean? Not just for the disabled, but for all of us? I bring in an old friend who can maybe explain a few things.
26:53S1
Between now and then. Please do get in touch with the show whether you have experience with any of the issues covered on this week's episode of Studio 1, or whether you think there's something we should be talking about, you never know. Your story and insight may help someone who's dealing with something similar.
27:09S2
You can contact us by email studio1@visionaustralia.org - that's studio number one at Vision Australia - dot - org.
27:16S1
Or you can drop us a note on Facebook at facebook.com, slash RVA Radio Network. And if you really feel like it, you can also go to x.com/va Radio Network to drop us a note there as well.
27:29S2
Goodbye for now.
27:33S3
Vision Australia Radio gratefully acknowledges the support of the Community Broadcasting Foundation for Studio 1.
